Issues: Corporations

Senator Jack M. Martins spoke in support of the Iran Divestmen Act, which was passed by the Senate. It prohibits entities that invest in Iran energy from contracting with the state. The bill was subsequently signed by the Governor.

Squadron and Silver: New Type of Corporation Will Unlock Billions in Investments for New York, Change the Way New York Does Business

ALBANY – Last night, State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s bill to bring benefit corporations to New York was signed into law by Governor Cuomo, changing the way New York does business.

Benefit corporations will create a new industry of corporations with a "double bottom line" of profit and socially-responsible practices – unlocking billions in potential investments in companies that pursue a positive material impact on society and the environment.

"Benefit corporations will mean New York is open for business in an important new way. Benefit corporations will unlock billions of dollars in new investments in New York while empowering companies to do well and do good,” said Senator Squadron. “By offering this opportunity to entrepreneurs and investors, New York will bring new businesses into the state, new investors into the market and a new socially-minded approach for our entrepreneurs. I'd like to thank Speaker Silver for championing this bill in the Assembly, and Governor Cuomo for making benefit corporations law and making New York's economy stronger, more innovative, and more diverse."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of "Jobs Express," a new website designed to help New Yorkers who are seeking employment.

The site takes thousands of jobs listed on the New York State Jobs Bank and sorts them by region to help job seekers evaluate what industries are growing in their area and find out what opportunities are available in specific economic sectors.

Much has been made of the lack of specific demands of the Occupy Wall Street protesters. But the themes underlying the protests are clear: accountability on Wall Street for the financial crisis that tanked the global economy; shared sacrifice as we pull ourselves out of an economic mess that the middle class and working poor didn't create; and a political system controlled by people, not corporations.

On Wednesday, October 5th, Senator Robach had the opportunity to attend an open house at the General Motors Holdings Plant on Lexington Avenue in Rochester. The open house was a way to say thank you to our community for the support that the company has received. Thousands of people took advantage of the open house to see many of the products made right here in our back yard. It was great to meet so many of the employees and see the members of our community who came out to support this open house.

“Good intentions have too often produced little more than lip service. In the Young Men’s Initiative we may finally have an effort where ambitious vision, planning and resources replace platitudes and promises.

“I applaud the mayor for his commitment to dealing with problems that have devastated many minority families and communities for generations. I thank him and Mr. Soros for their generosity.

“I stand ready to help the administration however I can. I also stand ready to hold the mayor’s feet to the fire on this initiative.

“Many of the communities I represent, and our city and country, desperately need this initiative to succeed.”

“For too long New York has lacked a comprehensive economic development strategy that reflects our state’s true economic and regional diversity. The newly created “regional economic development councils” will bring stakeholders from across the Western New York and Finger Lakes regions together to provide local expertise, insight, and know-how to the process -- ensuring that the residents of Erie, Wyoming, Livingston and Ontario Counties will have a strong voice in the discussion about the future of our community.

I applaud each of the Council’s appointees, and look forward to working hand-in-hand with them to attract jobs, grow our economy, and improve the region’s quality of life."

State Senator Patty Ritchie praised Novelis for the company’s decision to invest $200 million in its Oswego County operations to expand the company’s aluminum sheet production for the automotive industry which is expected to add 100 new jobs in Central New York.

“I want to thank Novelis for believing in the future of Oswego County and New York State,” Senator Ritchie said. “Last month, I sponsored my Career Expo that featured Novelis and other companies. The people who applied for positions at Novelis at my job fair will have an opportunity to be considered for those 100 new jobs.”

The lifetime achievements of Brooklyn native Dorothy Burnham were recognized and lauded by NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn) during the reading of a Senate resolution, which was unanimously passed by the full Senate during the final days of the 2011 Legislative Session. The resolution paid tribute to Dorothy Burnham’s many notable contributions to our public education system, the advancement of civil rights, and to the promotion of racial and economic equality. Ms. Burnham was also honored for her designation as recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the New York Friends of the People's World. “Dorothy Burnham is a Renaissance Woman,” said Senator Montgomery.

The State Senate today unanimously passed legislation co-sponsored by Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) and featured in a report by the Independent Democratic Conference that will help further expand the sale of New York State -grown agricultural products.